As a further, unequivocal confirmation—so keep it in mind—Abū al-Faraj said: “This is the consensus of the Muslims. In no age have we ever known a single person who abandoned the prayer to be denied ritual washing, the funeral prayer, or a share of his estate; nor has anyone refused to pray behind him or allowed him to pray behind them, despite the many who neglect the prayer. Had such a person been deemed an unbeliever, these rulings would certainly have applied. We likewise know of no disagreement among the Muslims that the one who leaves the prayer must make it up, whereas they do differ about the apostate.

“As for the earlier hadiths cited by those who pronounce disbelief—such as: ‘Between a man and disbelief lies his abandonment of the prayer’—they are intended as hyperbole and a comparison with the unbelievers, not a literal ruling, just as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: ‘Abusing a Muslim is wickedness and fighting him is disbelief,’ and similar texts meant to intensify the warning.”

Our teacher—meaning al-Muwaffaq al-Maqdisī, may Allah have mercy on him—said: “This is the sounder of the two opinions, and Allah knows best.”

I add: this was also transmitted by Shaykh Sulaymān, son of Shaykh ʿAbd Allāh, the son of the Shaykh. ⦗49⦘